Kansas City Man Sentenced to Over 15 Years for Heroin Conspiracy

A 65-year old man from Kansas City, MO, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday for his role in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and for illegally possessing a firearm.

The U.S. Attorney's Office says that Sidney A. Williams was sentenced to 15 years and eight months in federal prison without parole. The court also sentenced Williams to supervised release for the rest of his life following incarceration, and ordered him to forfeit $10,000 to the government.

According to the Attorney's Office for the Western District, on May 1, 2018, Williams pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy to distribute heroin and to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Williams reportedly admitted he participated in the drug-trafficking conspiracy from October 2012 to September 2016. In February 2013, detectives with the Kansas City Police Department became aware of a large-scale heroin trafficking organization operating in the metro area and began working with the Drug Enforcement Administration to investigate. Williams was identified as a distributor of black tar heroin in the metro area.

Williams was arrested on April 30, 2014, for possession of a controlled substance. When authorities searched his residence, officers found a loaded Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol, black tar heroin, crack cocaine, pills, a book of prescriptions and drug paraphernalia. Williams also had a bag of black tar heroin and marijuana in his pockets.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Williams has a prior federal felony conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm, for which he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Williams also has prior felony convictions for bank robbery, robbery and assault.

Williams is among five defendants who have been convicted in this case. Four co-defendants also have pleaded guilty and await sentencing.